University Enrollment Steady on Main Campus, Down Statewide

Ferris State University’s enrollment remained steady on its main Big Rapids campus,
while headcount at its statewide locations experienced decline. Compared to a year
ago, enrollment on the Big Rapids campus remained at 9,618 students, identical to
Spring 2015 enrollment numbers. Contributing to that stability, continuing students
were up 162 or 2 percent.

Outside of Big Rapids there were enrollment declines at the regional campuses with
headcount down 137. Overall university student headcount is 13,829, down 317, or 2.2
percent. First-year retention declined slightly, but remains high, with 90 percent
of full-time bachelor degree students and 86 percent of full-time associate degree
students continuing from fall.

The university’s student body continues to become more diverse. Ferris now has more
students who identify as Asian, Black/African American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
and of two or more races. The largest increase was among Hispanic students, with that
population increasing by 39 or 8.6 percent.

“We will continue to face challenges from the declining numbers of high school graduates
in Michigan, the increasing pressures of cost, affordability and state support, and
the economic challenges that students face,” Ferris President David Eisler said. “Our
spring enrollment numbers point to the fact that these, among other factors, are having
a real effect.”